6/26/2015: Supreme Mistake

As we approach the second anniversary of a date which will live in infamy, the Supreme Court’s ruling on homosexual “marriage” in Obergefell v. Hodges, I thought it important to remind Christians, so as to keep them awake and vigilant in our culture war. The Roe v. Wade anniversary is often marked by a March for Life. Let us also mark this day as, at the very least, a day of prayer for our wayward nation which has, thus far, bound itself to self-destruction. I do not advocate violence, but vigilance. And even as we warn the unbelieving culture to “repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”,[1] we also must recognize that the true enemy is the “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe” (2 Corinthians 4:4). “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, [and] against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). Pray for the spread of God’s kingdom in this nation and then live righteously as an Ambassador for Christ’s kingdom.  Pray for the blind and the blind guides. Intercede. “Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

(The original version of the column that follows was published on June 27, 2015 on another, now defunct, website.)

“The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone – it will come back on him” (Proverbs 26:27).

It has been decided… for the time being at least.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has declared that homosexuals have a right to “marry” in the United States. The Dred Scott decision (1857) is often touted as the worst Supreme Court ruling in history, one which helped fan the flames of division and civil war. Roe v. Wade (1973) is another disastrous decision which has not only divided this nation, but has also led to the killing of approximately 60 million babies by their own parents in America.[2] Today, we add a third disastrous ruling to the list, one that embraces immorality and demonstrates that America has completely cut ties with its Judeo-Christian roots.[3] One Jewish columnist entitled his column, “The Formal End to Judeo-Christian America”.[4] Of course, many will celebrate that as a victory as well.[5]

It is interesting to note that the justices who voted to legalize homosexual “marriage” across the nation, Justices Kennedy and Sotomayor, each with some kind of Roman Catholic affiliation, and Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan with their Jewish backgrounds, have each demonstrated, at least to me, that their religion is actually Leftism or Humanism.[6] They are adherents to the new religion which has supplanted Christianity in the United States. But these justices have forgotten the very God who created the institution of marriage.[7] They have forgotten the One who created and sustains them.[8] Therefore, borrowing the Apostle Paul’s words, “[Since] they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done” (Roman 1:18-32). These justices don’t seem to realize that they themselves will one day have to appear before the highest Court to give an account for themselves.[9]

As it was said to ancient Israel, so it could be said today: “[Your] guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path” (Isaiah 3:12, NIV) or as Jesus said, “They are blind guides. If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14). And the pit into which they will fall, if they fail to repent and call upon Christ, is an eternal one where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”[10]

Jonathan Edwards, one of America’s first theologians and philosophers, warned the ungodly,

“Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, ‘Cut it down…’ (Luke 13:7). The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over their heads, and ’tis nothing but… [the will of God] that holds it back…. the sentence of the Law of God, that eternal and immutable Rule of Righteousness that God has fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to Hell.”[11]

The proponents of sin and immorality, those who peddle it, push it, lobby for it, support it, and rule in favor of it, will all answer to God. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment” (1 Timothy 5:24).

Jesus, knowing sin would multiply, causing people to stumble and fall, said, “Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come” (Matthew 18:7-8).

Jonathan Edwards again:

“You probably are not sensible of this; [if] you find [at this moment] you are kept out of Hell, but don’t see the hand of God in it, but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these Things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand…”[12]

We must all give an account to God (Hebrews 4:13).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

For the record, I do note hate homosexuals. And I do not believe their sin is the unpardonable sin; Christ’s new life can bring repentance to homosexuals as well (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).[13] I sympathize with those whose hearts draw them towards sin. This is the human condition (Jeremiah 17:9); it is my condition, also (1 John 1:10). And when I see news stories of ISIS dropping suspected homosexuals from tall buildings,[14] I also am horrified and angered. I do not hate homosexuals; though I do hate the militant movement. Christ tells His followers to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39). The Bible instructs us: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9, NIV). But first and foremost we are to love God, to honor and reverence (or “fear”) Him. In fact we read that “To fear the LORD is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13) because evil is in direct opposition to God and all that which is good.

Certainly some readers are fuming now, hating me as they read this. I will be called a bigot, a homophobe, and so on and so forth. The ones who say “Love wins!” and “Hate has no home here!” often hate with the most fury.[15] But ad hominem attacks show the weakness of one’s cause. Labeling opponents or portraying them as idiots with whom there is no need to even argue, is a smoke screen and an escape mechanism; it is done in order to hide one’s inability to reasonably argue a case. Perhaps, eventually, as this movement continues to steamroll the nation, I will be sent for “sensitivity training”,[16] to a re-education camp, or simply put in jail[17] or prison for sharing with others what our Creator has told us about good and evil and sin. The government has begun to show us which religion will be favored. But of course, according to the Constitution, it is my right to speak my beliefs.[18] And even this ruling even tells us that “The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons… to define and express their identity.”[19] I am a Christian. This is my identity.[20]

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin [Jesus] to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

I am here reminded of Augustine’s words: “Where are you going over all those rough paths? Where are you going? …. He Himself is being left out of the account. What are you aiming at, then, by going on and on walking along these difficult and tiring ways? There is no rest to be found where you are looking for it. Seek what you seek, but it is not there where you are seeking. You seek a happy life in the country of death. It is not there. For how can life be happy, where there is no life”.[21]

“And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the LORD—that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28).

Christ is the true Ruler (Ephesians 1:21), the Creator, Sustainer (Colossians 1:16-17), and King of this world (Revelation 1:5). All human rulers and officials, judges and statesmen are simply vassals, but if they do not lead and govern according to God’s dictates, they will be dealt with by God, if not in this life then in the life to come. Everyone needs to remember this.

And so, we are all warned:

“I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, ‘Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago…. Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise… and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.

Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze! But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides” (2 Peter 3:1-13).